Yellowjackets 6, BLC 0
On Tuesday, the Yellowjackets went on the road on a mission. Knowing that they still stand a chance at securing an at-large berth in the 2011 NCAA tournament, they needed a win. In fact, they likely need to win all of their remaining games to extend their season beyond the November 2 finale to the regular campaign. And if their match Tuesday night at Bethany Lutheran is any indication, they're not quite ready to close the books on 2011.
The Yellowjackets dominated the Vikings - outshooting them, outscoring them and just flat-out destroyed them in a 6-0 pounding at Vikings Field.
With the victory, the Yellowjackets are now unbeaten in their last three matches and have lost just once in their last six.
The Yellowjackets came out flying and let it be known that the Vikings were not going to be in the match. They attempted the first nine shots of the match, including a one-minute stretch where Logan George (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka) (Ramsey, Minn.) had five consecutive corner kicks. They were finally able to break through and grab the lead when senior defender Dan Warnke (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) (Burnsville, Minn.) scored his fourth goal of the season at the 17:12 to give the Yellowjackets the 1-0 lead. Eric Nilsen (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) (Duluth, Minn.) had the assist, and he was just getting started. With the lead, the Yellowjackets continued peppering shots toward the Viking goal, and would add to the lead late. George directed a kick toward the Viking goal, and Nate Engel (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) (Maple Grove, Minn.) was there, sending it home with the header to make it 2-0 with just seven seconds to play in the first half.
After the break, the domination continued and the Yellowjackets exploded, putting the match out of reach. Less than two minutes into the half, Nilsen put a header home on assists from George and Alberto Rivero (Santander, Spain) to make it 3-0. Less than five minutes later Engel scored his second of the match, again with a header and again on an assist from George to make it 4-0. Minutes later, at 58:06, Nilsen directed home his second of the match from Rivero and reigning WIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week Thomas Shuldheisz (Andover, Minn./Andover) (Andover, Minn.) to make it 5-0. The Yellowjackets would close out the scoring at 78:37 as freshman Chase Carey (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) (Maple Grove, Minn.) scored his second of the year to make the final score 6-0. Carey has now scored in two of the last three matches.
Several players enjoyed huge games offensively - Nilsen had two goals and an assist, Engel a pair of goals and George three assists. Rivero finished with two assists.
The Yellowjackets outshot Bethany Lutheran 16-4 and had an 8-2 edge in shots on goal. Matt Elder (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) (New Hope, Minn.) got the start for the Yellowjackets and made two saves, improving his record to 8-3-2 on the year. The shutout was his fifth of the season. Noah Heidorn stopped just two of eight shots he faced for Bethany Lutheran.
The Yellowjackets (11-5-2, 3-3 WIAC) have two matches remaining in the 2011 regular season, both conferences matches and both on the road. The first comes on Saturday, October 29 when they will play at UW-Oshkosh at 1:30 p.m.
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